Birthday Recap Part 1!

I turned the big 3-2 on Sunday, but according to my brother Zach, I am "almost 40". He has been saying that to me since I turned 30 two years ago! I had a WONDERFUL birthday, thank you to everyone who called, sent me a card, messaged me, etc. I love my friends and family!

I started off my birthday celebration with a Kyoto sushi lunch on Wednesday, courtesy of MeMe. It was SOO good (as always!) and they did a great rendition of "Happy Birthday", complete with a guitar and tambourine. Mease got me an awesome Strawberry Shortcake pen (the ORIGINAL SS, not her slutty modern counterpart)and yummy apple martini shower gel from Ulta (does she know me or what?, you know I love me some apple martinis!)...She also suprised me on my actual birthday with a cool ROCKY movie tee that we saw at Target..she got one two, so know we can be twinsies and wear them on the same day!

Later on that night, mom took me to Best Buy to get my present from her and dad, a GPS system! I have really been wanting (and needing) one of these for the past year when I switched jobs. I travel probably 50% of the time now for work and I have a VERY big region to cover-- 22 counties, stretching way up in the mountains from Alleghany to Haywood, then all the way down to places like Anson and Montgomery county. Let me tell you, it is a scary feeling when you are all alone with your Mapquest directions and a road is closed for detour, the road mentioned on the directions is not there, etc. This has happened to me quite a few times and it is NOT fun. I usually call Cedric if he is available and he gets out his map book and gets me back on the right track. But if I can't get him, I just have to stop for help which is also not that fun. But NO MORE! I now have a GPS and I already love using it. I use it even when I know where I am going, lame right? But I love how it tells you what is coming up next and also how it gives you a countdown until you will arrive at your destination. So now if I miss a turn, run into a detour, all that will happen is "recalculating" and I will be directed how to get back to where I want to go. Gotta love this modern technology! Thanks mom and dad!

Friday, we had planned on hitting the bike trails at a local park with our new bikes we got at Christmas. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate, it was cold and rainy :( We decided to take Gaby to Monkey Joe's in Charlotte and we had an absolute blast. I love that place, we may do his next birthday party there, it really is just so much fun. We stopped on the way at a jewelry sale at one of the local hospitals and Ceddy got me a new charm for my bracelet (a pretty silver ball with rhinestones), a hang up travel bag for your toiletries, and a cute red/white polka dot business card holder (I have been using a ziploc bag to carry my cards in, this is a major step up for me to now have a fancy schmancey holder, thank you honey). I was beat that night from running and playing at Monkey Joes, but it did not wear Gabriel out, what does?

Saturday, we got up early to head to a local church to package meals to send to Haiti. Our church paid for a table and we were supposed to work it. When we got there, it was utter chaos, and they were not honoring the reserved tables, so there was nothing for us to do...I have to tell you, I was not at all impressed, this was sponsored by Stop Hunger Now, and if you are considering giving or helping, stick with another organization. You don't tell people there is nothing for them to do, sorry about that...you find them something the heck to do. Plus, they wasted 30 mintues showing videos about all the good they have done...the kind of video you show when you are trying to get someones money or help...you have a gym full of people ready to work and help, you don't need to show them that stuff, put them to work damn it. We were all there, you didn't need to convince us it was a good cause. Can you imagine turning away help? Yeah, kind of pissed me off, go figure :) It was kind of one of those feel good Christian things...I am not sure how much was really accomplished, but I am sure everyone felt good bragging to all their pals that they went. Ok, I have ranted enough about this...anyways, we were already up in Hickory, so we did a little shopping and McDonald's breakfast before heading home. Ceddy got me another bead for my Pandora bracelet, it is a little bucket of movie popcorn (for those of you who don't know, popcorn is probably my MOST favorite food and movie popcorn is just the ultimate to me!). My bracelet is filling up fast, I love it!

Ok, this concludes Part 1 of the birthday recap, tune back for Part 2 later!